Vipers make strong UPL statement

Best of last season: Club president Mulindwa (left) handing over the 2016-17 MVP award to defender and club captain Wadada. He also took home Shs2m. PHOTO BY I. KEZAALA

KAMPALA. By all standards, Ugandan football has moved a step high. Even before the Uganda Premier League (UPL ) commences tomorrow, clubs are already wrestling to show off who acquired the best players and who paraded them better before their respective fans.
Vipers went for another novelty on Saturday as they showed off their new acquisitions at a splendid fans’ day out party held at their swanky St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende.
Fans in droves enjoyed free entrance, free eats and entertainment by David Lutalo and Ziza Bafana as the entire team was treated to a well-lit red carpet presentation at the inner pitch.
“We may not have done it to the level of Barcelona or PSG but at least we have set a trend in Uganda for others to borrow a leaf,” Vipers Patron Lawrence Mulindwa remarked.
With the arrival of Tom Masiko, Tadeo Lwanga, Mousa Clovis Mbayi, Steven Mukwala, Yayo Lutimba, Steven Mukwala, Baden Mujahid and Ashraf Bamuturaki, Mulindwa has mandated head coach Jorge Da Costa Miguel to deliver the league trophy at the end of the season.
“We must move from the third place finish of last season to being first because it is where we belong,” he demanded as Costa attentively listened to his left.
“We started this season’s preparations early enough and I believe the recruitments were spot-on.
“Everything is in place for the coach to assemble a competitive team to win the league. We have to develop Ugandan football through clubs, unity and fair competition,” he added.
With a daunting trip to Mwererwe tomorrow to face Bright Stars in the league opener, Costa maintained he feels no pressure and his side is ready to roar. “We have a solid team that we believe will favourably compete for honors this season,” said the Portuguese coach.
Wadada on cloud nine
For his indefatigable contribution to Vipers last season, club skipper Nicholas Wadada was rewarded with the most valuable player (MVP) gong and a cheque of Shs2m.
Halid Lwaliwa (Fans player),Isma Watenga (Motivational player),Frank Tumwesigye (Rising star),Milton Karisa (First goal at Kitende stadium) and Tony Odur (Top scorer) were also honoured. Journalist Abdu Wasike is henceforth the club’s new communications director.